Sires Stakes action heats up at Hoosier Park

Hoosier Park played host to a stakes filled card on Thursday with five divisions of 3-year-old trotting colts and six divisions of 2-year-old pacing fillies battling in Indiana Sires Stakes action. It was the second round of stakes action for the 3-year-old trotting colts and the opening round for the freshman fillies. After the dust settled on the evening's 14-race card, the track record for 3-year-old trotting geldings was equaled and a national season's mark for 2-year-old pacers had been established.

Can't Touch Her and Tyler Smith stole the show after they recorded the fastest mile of the season for two-year-old pacers, regardless of gender or track size, with a 1:53.3 triumph in their $20,000 division of the stakes action. In near gate-to-wire fashion, Can't Touch Her recorded her third win of the year and a national season's mark in just her fourth career start.

Leaving from post two, Smith sent Can't Touch Her away from the gate firing but Image of Felicia and Luke Plano also left alertly to get the first call in :27.4. Opting out of a pocket trip, the Steve Carter trainee took control at the half and dictated fractions of :57 and 1:26.1. As the field turned for home, Image of Felicia tipped from the pocket but Can't Touch Her wasn't done.

Using a :27.2 final quarter, the daughter of Rockin Image-Can't Quit Smiling paced on to the wire to finish a length in front of Image of Felicia. Rockin Bikini closed well in the late stages of the mile to round out the trifecta for driver Trace Tetrick. As the heavy betting favorite, Can't Touch Her returned $4.40 at the windows.

"She always had talent training down this winter but could get a little rough gaited at times,” Carter noted after the victory. "We made some adjustments and she trained really well this week so I knew she would be sharp, just not that sharp. Hopefully she can stay good all season.”

Owned by Steve and Tammy Carter, Can't Touch Her is from the first crop of Rockin Image and the second foal from her dam, Can't Quit Smiling. Can't Touch Her has now won three of four seasonal starts while earning $13,750.

On the trotting side of the stakes action, Rose Run Parker continued his winning ways and extended his win streak to 10 after he scored in 1:54.1 in his division of the $20,000 Indiana Sires Stakes for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Rose Run Parker remains undefeated in his sophomore season and the 1:54.1 victory equaled the track record for 3-year-old trotting geldings at Hoosier Park.

Driver Ricky Macomber Jr. left no room for error as he sent Rose Run Parker, heavily favored at 1-9, to the front from post three. Justice Jet and Ed Hensley would make the publics' choice work for position but Rose Run Parker pressed on and secured the lead at the half in :58.1.

As the field turned for home, Rose Run Parker put his talent on display and began to trot away from the rest of the field. The son of Jailhouse Jesse-Centergy was under wraps at the wire and finished six lengths in front of Gloire Dream and LeWayne Miller. Justice Jet trotted evenly to earn third place honors. Heavily favored at the betting windows, Rose Run Parker returned $2.10 for the victory.

The 14-time career winner has now amassed $403,500 for his connections of Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, and W. Haas Jr. Rose Run Parker's ten race win streak includes wins in the first $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for 3-year-old trotting colts and the $45,250 Madison County Stakes last season. With the win, Rose Run Parker has earned his spot in the second of five $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings slated for July 5 at Hoosier Park. (Hoosier Park)